Chapter 14
Helena lost every D’Angelo channel that day.
No council.
No private capos.
No household authority.
No access to Sophie unless Sophie’s parents allowed it.
That last part enraged her most.
“I am her grandmother.”
Nora’s face hardened.
Roman.
I looked at her.
This decision belonged to both of us.
Nora spoke first.
“You told my daughter her father was dead.”
Helena lifted her chin.
“I protected her from confusion.”
Nora laughed.
“You created the confusion.”
Helena turned toward me.
“You will let her keep family from family?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
She almost smiled.
Then I continued.
“I will let Sophie’s mother decide who is safe around her.”
Her smile vanished.
For the first time, Nora looked at me differently.
Not forgiving.
Trusting one inch more.
Helena stared.
“You’re letting an outsider decide D’Angelo access.”
I looked at Sophie.
She was coloring at the far end of the room.
“She isn’t outside.”
Helena followed my eyes.
“Sophie is D’Angelo.”
My voice hardened.
“And Nora is her mother.”
That ended it.
My mother had spent three years treating blood as the highest authority when it helped her.
Now blood worked against her.
Sophie looked up.
“Is Grandma mad?”
I crouched beside her.
“Yes.”
“Because of me?”
“No.”
Her eyes searched mine.
“Because people found out what she did.”
Sophie thought about that.
Then nodded.
Important distinction.
I would not let her inherit Helena’s guilt.
Adults choose cruelty.
Children do not cause it by existing.
Sophie returned to her drawing.
May you like
Helena watched her.
For once, she had no power over how the child understood the room.
